Emirati Tourist’s Traditional Clothing Scares Ohio Hotel Clerk, So He Has Him Detained

Associated Press

- Jul 04, 2016 12:00 pm

Skift Take

The migrant crisis and a surge in chauvinistic movements around the world leads to admonitions like the UAE having to warn its citizens to forsake wearing traditional garb when traveling.

— Dennis Schaal

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The United Arab Emirates is warning its citizens to avoid wearing traditional garments when traveling abroad after an Emirati man was handcuffed in Ohio over terrorism fears.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a tweet late Saturday that Emiratis should avoid wearing the garments for their safety. A separate ministry statement urged women to abide by bans on face veils in parts of Europe.

Local media reported Sunday that Emirati national Ahmed al-Menhali was detained at gunpoint last week while wearing a traditional white kandura, or ankle-length robe, and headscarf in Avon, Ohio after a hotel clerk raised suspicions he could have links to the Islamic State group.

Cleveland’s WEWS-TV posted police camera video footage of al-Menhali’s arrest and a later meeting where Avon officials offered their apologies.

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Photo Credit: Emirati officials visit an exhibition at the World Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In a tweet late Saturday, July 2, 2016 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned its citizens to avoid wearing traditional garments when traveling abroad after an Emirati man was handcuffed last week in Ohio over terrorism fears. Kamran Jebreili / Associated Press